Rata was a young boy. Every morning he saw village men go out to the fishing grounds, And in the afternoon he watched them return, but there weren’t enough fish for the village, Rata decides a canoe, a canoe that was strong.
So Rata went into the forest and found a Totara tree, he chopped the tree down then left to go home,
The next morning Rata went to the Totara tree he cut down, But the Totara tree was standing in it’s Place. Rata thought he had dreamed all that hard work, so he chopped down the Totara tree again and went back home
The next morning Rata returned to the Totara tree. Rata couldn’t believe his eyes, the tree was standing there with every chip in it’s place.
Rata thought, “I’m being tricked.” So he chopped the tree down and pretended to go home, but he hid behind a bush.
Then the sound of singing came from birds and other animals. Rata jumped out from behind the bush and shouted, ”Why are you doing this to me?”
The animals replied, ”Because you didn’t ask Tane, God of the forest.” Rata felt ashamed and walked home slowly,
The next morning Rata went to ask Tane if he could chop down his tree. Winds circled Rata’s head, Rata knew Tane had said yes.
So Rata chopped down the Totara tree. He did some carvings on the canoe and the animals helped Rata make it hallow. So now the men could catch enough fish for the village. Kayla
Rata and the Totara tree
Rata was a young boy. Every morning he saw village men go out to the fishing grounds, And in the afternoon he watched them return, but there weren’t enough fish for the village, Rata decides a canoe, a canoe that was strong.
So Rata went into the forest and found a Totara tree, he chopped the tree down then left to go home,
The next morning Rata went to the Totara tree he cut down, But the Totara tree was standing in it’s Place. Rata thought he had dreamed all that hard work, so he chopped down the Totara tree again and went back home
The next morning Rata returned to the Totara tree. Rata couldn’t believe his eyes, the tree was standing there with every chip in it’s place.
Rata thought, “I’m being tricked.” So he chopped the tree down and pretended to go home, but he hid behind a bush.
Then the sound of singing came from birds and other animals. Rata jumped out from behind the bush and shouted, ”Why are you doing this to me?”
The animals replied, ”Because you didn’t ask Tane, God of the forest.” Rata felt ashamed and walked home slowly,
The next morning Rata went to ask Tane if he could chop down his tree. Winds circled Rata’s head, Rata knew Tane had said yes.
So Rata chopped down the Totara tree. He did some carvings on the canoe and the animals helped Rata make it hallow. So now the men could catch enough fish for the village. Kayla